By Perry Bacon Jr.
The House Ethics Committee announced plans Thursday to expand its investigation of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who in August amended his congressional financial disclosure forms to acknowledge hundreds of thousands of dollars in previously unreported income and assets.

In a statement, the committee said it voted unanimously to add the fresh disclosures to its examination of Rangel, which has now lasted more than a year. Rangel, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, stands accused of a variety of ethical violations involving his finances. The committee said nothing Thursday about the progress of its probe or when it would end, but noted members had issued 150 subpoenas, interviewed 34 witnesses and held 30 meetings about Rangel.

A Republican-sponsored resolution to remove Rangel from his chairmanship was defeated Wednesday by Democrats, who said Congress should defer to the ethics committee. House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) Wednesday repeated his call for Rangel to step down until the committee completes its investigation and said "we're going to continue to press this case."

The Congressional Black Caucus, which Rangel helped found more than four decades ago, after he was first elected to the House, strongly defended the Harlem lawmaker. In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), its members blasted "partisan attempts to ignore the well-established, bipartisan congressional ethics committee."

"We are proud of the thoughtful leadership he provides to the House," the group wrote. "He has our full support for his work as Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means while a bipartisan ethics review is pending."

By 44 Editor | October 8, 2009; 4:49 PM ET

FROM (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/1/house_ethics_committee_expands.html)

SEE ALSO - http://ethics.house.gov/Media/PDF/Rangel_Press_Statement_Oct_8_2009.PDF?loc=intersti tialskip

lacarnut

10-09-2009, 12:37 AM

Any crime short of murder and the black caucus would still support him. Lying and cheating don't count.